The city of Boulder is considering what its energy future will look like. The goal it to acquire "clean, local and reliable" energy in the future, and one voter-approved option is to start a municipal utility. For more information on the history of this decision, click here.

Neighbors ask to pull Johnson's Corner landmark status

Longmont's Historic Preservation Commission wants more data before deciding on historic gas station

By Scott RochatLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
08/01/2013 09:11:59 PM MDT

Updated:
08/02/2013 10:15:00 AM MDT

The former Johnson s Corner gas station sits in Longmont's Prospect neighborhood, where it was moved to save it from demolition in 2003.
(
LEWIS GEYER
)

LONGMONT -- Neighbors of the former Johnson's Corner gas station asked for its historical status to be revoked Thursday, saying 10 years has been too long to wait for its promised restoration.

"Ten years of decay, and each year it goes down a bit," said Noelle Abarelli, a resident of the Prospect neighborhood, to Longmont's Historic Preservation Commission. "It's time for some decisions."

Built in 1937, Johnson's Corner is mentioned in Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." It was designed by Colorado architect Eugene Groves from a patented method of reinforced concrete construction, and is considered an example of Art Deco-Pueblo style architecture.

But it's also been a conundrum for those wanting to do something with the place. The building once sat on Main Street, but had to be moved in 2003 to keep it from being demolished. Developer Kiki Wallace relocated the building to Prospect -- the neighborhood he built -- intending it to be a showpiece once restored.

But funding for the restoration never came. The building got local landmark status in 2007, but an application for state grant money fell through two years later.

Over time, residents said, the building has steadily deteriorated, becoming a home for animals, a magnet for teens, and a source of debris that blows into the nearby pool on windy days.

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"This is a burned-out building in Iraq," said Prospect business-owner Edward Vanegas as he clicked through a series of slides. "And this is Johnson's Corner. They're similar."

Wallace had applied in March to revoke the landmark status -- which would permit either demolition or more extensive rehabilitation than its historic standing would allow -- but soon after put the application on hold. A revocation can only be initiated by the property's owner, the preservation commission or the City Council; the council has the final decision.

Jim West of Historic Longmont asked that the landmark status stay. The reasons for the designation are still valid, he said, and while the state was unlikely to approve a lump sum for the restoration of Johnson's Corner (guessed to run between $500,000 and $750,000), a phased, piecemeal approach might draw a series of smaller grants.

"There is a community benefit that could be gained by restoring and rehabilitating this particular structure," West said.

"Do you have a timeline?" commissioner Sara Barnes asked. "If we go 10 more years, then this is going to be on the ground."

Johnson's Corner's landmark status was based on its style and because it had been a business that did not enforce segregation rules.

The commission said it wanted more information before considering a revocation hearing, including an assessment of the damage to Johnson's Corner and the likelihood of its restoration.

"Is it really feasible to put this building back together?" Barnes asked. "Are we wishing for something that's not going to happen?"

Commissioners also may visit the site to study its condition personally.

Wallace attended the meeting but left immediately after its resolution; he could not be reached for comment.

Commissioner Eric Hozempa urged the rest of the board to be ready to make a decision in its September meeting.

"We're not just kicking the can down the road," he said.

If the commission asks city staff in September to start the revocation process, a hearing would be scheduled and the commission would vote at that hearing on a recommendation. The decision would then come to the City Council for a final vote.

Ballot language:
In November, Boulder voters narrowly approved two ballot issues related to starting a municipal utility: 2B and 2C. You can read the full text of the ballot language on the city's website.

Issue 2B asked voters to increase the existing utility occupation tax by up to $1.9 million a year. The money from the tax, which will be collected from customers by Xcel Energy, will be used by the city to cover the costs of moving forward with forming a municipal utility, such as more studies and legal fees.

Issue 2C asked voters for permission to actually form a municipal utility. The language allows the city to sell the necessary bonds to take over the current system from Xcel, but it states that the city may only move forward with forming a municipal utility if it can start the utility with rates that are the same or cheaper than Xcel's.

Helpful Links:City of Boulder: This is where the city is aggregating all of its documents, meeting information and updates on Boulder s energy future: bouldercolorado.gov/energyfuture

RenewablesYes: This website is run by the group of volunteers that lobbied local voters to pass a utility occupation tax in November to replace the expiring franchise fee from Xcel Energy. Now, the group is advocating for the city to secure a cleaner, more local energy supply. renewablesyes.org

Xcel Energy: Xcel is the largest utility in Colorado, and it currently provides electricity to Boulder. The city s 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel expired at the end of 2010. xcelenergy.com

Boulder Smart Energy Coalition: A citizen group that supports the city's general energy goals but has concerns about the risks involved with starting a municipal utility. bouldersec.com

SmartGridCity: Xcel Energy has installed a smart grid in Boulder. This web site provides more information on that initiative. smartgridcity.xcelenergy.com

Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities: This Colorado Springs-based group represents the state s 29 municipal utilities, which include utilities based in Lyons and Longmont. coloradopublicpower.org